Page 134 of Never Quiet

I don’t want him to touch you. I’ll send transport for you in a week. Thank you, Amanda.

For several minutes, she struggled to breathe, to understand what was happening, as she cried as quietly as possible.

Callie rolled over and mumbled, “Amanda? What’s wrong?” She sat up and turned on the lamp on her side of the bed. “Did something happen?” Getting out of bed, she took Amanda’s phone and read the messages. “Girl, I thought this might happen. I didn’t want to say anything in case I was wrong.” There was a pause. “What are you going to say?”

“I-I’m confused. Is he…what’s he telling me?”

“He broke up with Isabella. She was relieved.”

“W-what?”

“She’s fine. He’s not fine.”

With shaking hands, Amanda replied.

You and I need to have a conversation. Let me check out the think tank…then make arrangements for that to happen.

Instantly, he responded.

Will this be a face to face conversation, Amanda?

Glancing at Callie, she whispered, “I love him.”

She smiled gently. “I know you do.”

Eye to eye, Hayden.

Two texts appeared back to back.

I haven’t heard your voice or seen you in person in eight months. I’ll attempt to be on my best behavior.

No promises.

Setting her phone away from herself before she vomited her emotional state all over him, Amanda got up to use the bathroom, wash her face, and try to pull her shit together.

Callie grinned as Amanda got back in bed. “Happy birthday, ho.” After a pause, she added, “I think you’re going to be my sort of step-mom. Hope you’re prepared for that bullshit because I’ve heard teenagers are pains in the ass.”

The words made Amanda laugh. “I can’t with you.”

The silence drew out and she thought Callie fell back to sleep. Then she asked, “Question: how would you feel if I tortured the other one?”

Turning her head on the pillow, Amanda smiled slowly. “Erick?” Rolling over, she whispered, “You like Erick?”

“It’s weird. I know it’s so weird. He’s an asshole but I like his brain and his body…I don’t even know what I’m feeling.”

“Butterflies?”

Sighing dramatically, she rolled her eyes. “Don’t make it romantic and shit. I just want to touch him.”

“Uh huh. You know where my mind is about him. I won’t go backwards. If you can overlook the awkward history, if you have the fortitude to go ten rounds with a man afflicted with emotional short-term memory loss, then be my guest.”

“Not now. He’s salivating over you and he deserves to get a figurative kick in the balls.” She fixed her pillow. “I think I’ll see what happens later. When I have time and you’re back with Hayden so he knows he doesn’t have a chance in hell of ever having access like that to you again.”

Shortly after, Callie drifted to sleep.

Amanda rolled to her back, crossed her arms behind her head, and thought about Hayden.

Did he want her back?

Did he still love her?

She loved him as if she’d seen him eight hours rather than eight months ago. She was dealing with it better but the pain hadn’t faded.

It seemed too easy.

Based on the last few years, Amanda knew such things never came so easily. As a Lang woman, she was prepared to deal with whatever happened…

Because Hayden had the butterflies in her stomach going crazy.

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